Annapolis Alderman Jared Littmann, D-Ward 5, holds a press conference Monday at City Hall to introduce the “Non-Discrimination of Foreign-Born Residents” ordinance, which would prohibit city employees under most circumstances from questioning a person’s immigration status.

Annapolis Alderman Jared Littmann, D-Ward 5, holds a press conference Monday at City Hall to introduce the “Non-Discrimination of Foreign-Born Residents” ordinance, which would prohibit city employees under most circumstances from questioning a person’s immigration status.

New legislation before the Annapolis City Council would prohibit city employees, including police, from questioning a person's immigration status, unless doing so was required by law or otherwise deemed relevant.

The measure, introduced at Monday's council meeting, looks to bolster trust between city police officers, and residents who were born in other countries and those who have family or friends who were.

Ward 5 Alderman Jared Littmann, the ordinance's sponsor, said the proposal is aimed, in part, at addressing situations where foreign-born residents are victims to or witnesses of crimes, but are afraid to talk to or cooperate with police because of their immigration status. Some may fear speaking to police will risk their status in the country, he said.

"This legislation allows that conversation without that risk," Littmann said Monday. "Having everyone feel safe to talk to the police benefits everyone because it helps the police do its job and keep our community safe for everyone."

Littmann, a Democrat, held a news conference at City Hall just before Monday's council meeting to introduce the proposal. He was flanked by more than two dozen supporters from organizations like CASA and the NAACP.

The proposal, named the Non-Discrimination of Foreign-Born Residents ordinance, would prohibit discrimination by any means, including withholding or altering city services or benefits, based on a person's immigration status or ability to speak English.

Littmann said the measure also has a fiscal purpose.

"Our city tax dollars and our city resources such as fire and police should not be used to do the federal government's job," he said.

The legislation stops short of making Annapolis a "sanctuary city," like New York and San Francisco, which have adopted policies that in some way protect undocumented immigrants from prosecution that is based solely on their immigration status.

The legislation says it would not prevent city police from participating in federal task force activities or cooperating with and assisting federal immigration authorities who have found probable cause that an undocumented person has engaged in criminal activity.

"When the police are investigating a crime, if they meet someone and the immigration status is not relevant, (then) they don't ask the question (under the proposal)," Littmann said. "If they are working … on a specific police directive where that is relevant, they are absolutely entitled to do their jobs and ask immigration questions."

Four other members of the City Council — Alderman Ian Pfeiffer, Alderwoman Shelia Finlayson, Alderman Kenny Kirby and Alderman Ross Arnett, all Democrats — have signed onto the ordinance as co-sponsors, Littmann said.

Also during Monday's meeting, the City Council approved a transfer of $1.25 million to the Police Department.

Police Chief Michael Pristoop said the primary focus of the money will be on funding the hiring of more officers. The funding will also be used to expand the department's surveillance camera program and buy body cameras for officers, among other things, he said.

The meeting also saw a number of appointments and re-appointments to city positions, including the appointments of Alice Cain to the Education Commission and Peter Trogdon to the Maritime Advisory Board.

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The City of Annapolis is preparing for President Donald Trump's visit on Friday, May 25 to address graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

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The City of Annapolis is preparing for President Donald Trump's visit on Friday, May 25 to address graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The City of Annapolis is preparing for President Donald Trump's visit on Friday, May 25 to address graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

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The Class of 2021 takes 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 35 seconds to complete the annual rite of passage, placing a cap at the top of the greased monument.

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The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office investigated a top aide to State’s Attorney Wes Adams for four months, responding to a complaint it said was filed anonymously from the prosecutor’s office.

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Body camera footage obtained by The Capital depicting the aftermath of a fight outside the Armadillos restaurant in March show an officer who claims to have sprayed Ryan Greenstreet, 23, of Huntingtown in Calvert County, and Michael Richardson, 21, of West River, with his department-issued mace.

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Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh announced the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Maryland Transit Administration have entered into a partnership to increase security and law enforcement for Light Rail operations in the County.

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